Power transmission for ice scoring machines



Feb. 13, 1951 W w BATEMAN 2,541,323

POWER TRANSMISSION FOR ICE SCORING MACHINES Filed Feb. 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l gummi A vTToRNEz/ Feb. 13, 1951 W, w, BATEMAN 2,541,323

POWER TRANSMSSION FOR ICE SCORING MACHINES Filed Feb. 2o, 195o s sheets-sheer 2 di m M; 66 M 4%?4 3 52 if i 53 i /2 4mmlin, 742/ gig/,

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AT ToRNEY Feb. 13, 1951 w. w. BATEMAN f 2,541,323

PONER TRANSMISSION FoR ICF SCORING MACHINES Filed Feb. 2o, 195o 3 sheets-sheet 3 //7//70/77- W aewmw INVENTOR.

TTRNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 POWER TRANSMISSION FOR ICE SCORING t MACHINES William W. Bateman, Mineral Wells, Tex.

Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,221

9 claims.

This invention relates to ice scoring machines and it has particular reference to a new and improved power unit for such machines.

. The principal object of the inventionis to reduce to a considerable extent the number of shafts, sprockets and chains ordinarily used to drive the various components of the conventional ice scoring machine and, in substitution thereof, to provide a power transmission consisting of an encased drum superimposed on the machine frame, having an external ring gear by which the drum is rotated and further provided with internal and external gear segments and cooperating pinions effective to actuate a cable sheave which, in turn, operates an elevator to move an ice block into the path of opposed, vertical saws for transverse scoring. Moreover, the power transmission of the invention propels shafts carrying the vertical saws as well as horizontal saws for producing longitudinal scores as Athe ice block is advanced through the machine by a conveyor also actuated by the power transmission. Finally, the power transmission operates a tilting cage or up-ender into which the scored ice block is advanced by the conveyor, to complete the operative cycle, after which the machine is automatically stopped.

"Other objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ice scoring machine equipped with a power unit constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section on a larger scale, taken on line 4--4 of Figure 1.

operate the machine more eflicaciously than hitherto accomplished by conventional means.

In Figures l to 4, the ice scoring machine is comprised of a frame made up of parallel base rails Ill, uprightsv II at each end and at the midsection of the frame and which support the top rails I2.

The uprights Ii at the rear end of the frame and those at the midsection thereof servevas guides for an elevator consisting of a platform I3 for supporting a block of ice, not shown, and having at each end perpendicular cleats I4 slidably embracing the uprights II. A longitudinal member I5 connects the cleats I4 at their upper ends and carries an anchoring strip I6 for the ends of two supporting cables I'I.

Midway between the bottom and top rails III and I2 and on each side of the frame is mounted a shaft I8. These shafts are parallel and their rear ends are journaled in bearings I9, affixed to the rear uprights I I, The forward ends of these shafts enter gear housings 20 in which operate bevel gears for transmitting rotary motion fro-m vertical shafts 2I to the shafts I8, thus to rotate a series of spaced apart saws 22 carried by each shaft IB.

The lower end of each vertical shaft 2I is supported by a bearing 23 which, as shown in Figure Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the power l transmission drum per se.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the power transmission drum.

.Figure 7 is a perspective view of the external pinion and cam operated by the outer gear segments of the drum to actuate the ice conveyor and tilting cage.

.Figure 8 is a top plan view of the power transmission drum per se.

Figure 9 is a view of the drum'in diametrieal cross-section on a larger scale, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8, and

` Figure l0 is a detail perspective view of the internal pinion and cam operated by the inner gear segments of the drum to actuate the ice elevator. y

In continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, it is pointed out that the in- 1, is secured to an intermediate frame upright II and mounted on the lower end of each of these shafts 2| is a horizontal saw 24.

It is evident from the foregoing that a block of ice of proper dimensions mounted on the ele-l vator I3 will be scored transversely as the elevator is raised. Also, when the ice block is lowered and moved longitudinally in the frame in a forwardly direction, a longitudinal score will be made therein onY each side by engagement of the horizontal saws 24, to enable the block to be readily separated into smaller blocks of predetermined size.

To advance the block in the machine, a conveyor chain 25 is disposed to operate along one side of the frame at a point spaced upwardly fromthev bottom rails I0. lTo support the conveyor chain, a bracket ZS (Fig. l) is mounted on a rear upright II to support a bearing and a. stub shaft 2l, the latter carrying a sprocket wheel 23. The chain 25 operates on this sprocket wheel and a like wheel 2E at the opposite end, mounted on a' vertical shaft 35 (Fig. 4) the lower end of which is journaled in a bearing 3| which in turn is supported by a bracket 32 bolted to one of the base rails IIJ, as shown.

After the ice block is scored vertically, it is moved by the conveyor 25 longitudinally onto a platform 33 having vertical guide channels 34,

A crank arm 3l is aixed to one of the pivots 36, and to. the. end of the. crank. arm is. pivoted at; 38, the lower: end of'v a connecting'rodf, 39. The upper end of the rod 3&'3 is pivoted at 4U to a second crank arm 4I. The crank arm 4I is. afXed to a short horizontal shaft 42, journaled" in a bearing 43 on the top ofi theimachine frame and enters a gear housing 4, which will be agai'rr. referred to presently.

It will be observed in Figure 1 that the crank arm lil is provided with longitudinally' aligned? holes 45. These holes afford an adjustment for the connecting rod 3S to. determine the degree of tilt of the cage 35. If it is desired to deposit the block of ice on end after scoring, the settingI of^ the connecting rod with respect tol crank dil isY as: shown in Figure 1. However, should it bedesired to slide theblock out of the machine in the same position as it was conveyed therethrough, their the uppery end of the connecting rod would be connected in the hole of the crank 4`| nearest its rotating axis which would allow displacement of the tiltingl cage 35 sufficient only to slide the ice block from the cage.

lTheV foregoing description deals only with the ice scoring machine which, as stated, is generally' of conventional design. The description to fol-v low will explain the invention which isV designed to operate the variousA components of the) ma.- chine.

' A housing 46- of generally circular formation is secured on top' of' the upper rails |-2 of the machine frame at the approximate midsection thereof. Within this housing is rotatably mounted the" so-c'alled power transmission drum generally de's-` ignated by reference numeral 41 in Figures 4, 5", 6, Stand' 9. This drum has a center bearing A8' whichembraces a spindle 139 (Fig. 4), rising from a rigid support B. The anti-friction bea-ring 48' allows the drum to turn without effort in the housing 4'6.

' The drum has an annularI gear 5I embracing the same at its midsection and is rotated by al gear 52l engaging the ring gear, as shown in the break-away of Figure 4 and is mounted' on a shaft. 53 whosel lower end enters a gear housing 54 which contains a worin gear, not shown, drivenv by? a worm in the branch 55 of the housing. 54. A shaft 56 (Fig. 4) in a transverse shaft housing: 5Fl; drives the saidl worm and the shaft 55", in turn,v isdriven by a motor 58', (Figs. 1-3) through pulleys 59 and B' and connecting belt 5 l.

' As the motor 53 drives the drum @1f inv the manner above explained, it also operates' each'` ofi the vertical shafts 2| through meshed gears7 in:l each of the housings S2V to thus drive the horizontal scoring saws 24 on these shafts. Since the saw' shafts i8 are driven from shafts ZI. through gears in housings 2li', the vertical saws 2-2y arev simultaneously operated.

""The motor 5t.' is energizedv only' for the duration ofthe operating cyclev and'. isV de-energized whenv the ice block is discharged from theY machine. AA starting and stopping switch, 63 on the top of the drum housing 66 has its operating arm disposed in the path of` the crank arm 45'! andA is.- periodically engagedby the arm toy determine theY operating cycle of the machine.

To. drive the. elevator t3, a pinion (it (Fig. l0) having an' integral cam block S5 is adapted to operate Within the drum #il andY its stub shaft 556' extends upwardly through the cover. plate lof the drum housing 46 to receive a cable drum 6-8.

On-the-cahle` drum 68 is woundA the two cables l-' which support the elevator; I3 and whichA cables, Pass over; sheaves; 5.,8a, supported inl a frame 6811;.

mounted on the top rails 5,2. The elevator receives: the block of ice at; floor level. andi is rst raised to its highest point to produce the transverse scores by the vertical saws 22, after which it is lowered to a level With the platform 33 to permittheL ice` tor be. moved into the tilting cage 35 bythe conveyor 25. Following passage of the ice into. the. cage 3.5,., the elevator moves again the short distance to floor level to receive another ice, block for scoring..

The pinion 5B is first engaged by the internal gear segment 69 of the drum 41 (Fig. 8) as the latter is rotated. The cable drum S8 is caused thereby to revolve towind the cables li'thereon, thus toraise they elevator to the upwardE limitlot travel. The ice is scored transversely by the saws'. 221 Asthe drum fil' continues to revolve, an opposing gear segment 'Ell in the drum engages the pinion: 64',v rotating the same in the opposite di# recti'on, thus' reversing the direction of rotation. of the cablel drum E8, to lower the elevator lf3; the saws 2?; passing through the scores previously madeA thereby. It is to be observedthat'v ther elevator is lowered only to the level of' the plat#l form 33 initially hence the gear segment T0 is: shorter in length than the gear segment 59. Inshifting from one to the other of the gear seg ments iig-it to reverse the direction of the pinion 64', the cam 65 thereof is engaged by a lug Tlf' (Fig: 8) which insures proper meshing of thev teethv of the pinion with those of the gear'seg.- ment'm. As the drum 47' continuesto rotate, the gear segment. 'it will ride off` the pinion, allowing for a pause during which the conveyor chain 25 functions to transfer the block of' icel into. thee t-ilting cage 35. Following this operation, the short gear segment i2 (Fig. 8) engages the pin'-,

' ion 64' to lower the elevator i3" the short distance' tov the floor level" preparatory to receiving` an other block of ice for scoring. f

To: operate the conveyor chain 25', an external gear segment 'lf3 is aixed to the periphery off the? drum lll which is brought into engagement. with: av gear llt (Fig. 4) on the upper end of vertical shaft 3U, once during the operating cycle of the machine. The shaft 30, as previously explained', carries the sprocket 29'vvhich drives the chain'` Z5.

Spaced apart circumferentiallyA on the periphery of the drum 41 are two short gear segments 'l5 and 16? (Fig. 6). Adapted for periodic engage-i ment with these gear segments is a pinion 11 (Fig. 7) having an attendant integral cam. block: 118; The shaft T9 of this pinion extends upwardly through the cover plate 61 ofi the drum. housingfd: into gear housing 44 previouslyv mentioned. A. gear, not shown, engages; a bevel gear in the. housing 44.- which gear is: mounted. on thev transe.v verse shaft 42, on which is mounted; the. crank arm. Ail ,adaptedtc actuate: the connecting rodi39. crank arm 37 and tilting cage 35.

The gear segment l5, as it engages the;- pinion 717:, levels ther tilting cage. 35 with respect. to the: platform 33 so that the conveyor 25v may movea. block` of ice.l into the cage. The lengthof. the gear.- segment 't3 is; such as. toi allow time for the. conveyor to complete its function.

The gear segment It is of the same length-.aa segment.A 15. and servesto again actuate-.piniom 11 to; raise the; tilting cage 35. on its. pivots 36.13B.; the-block of ice therein.- As stated prag. viousl-y,l the upper end. of the connecting rod..3$. may be. adjusted to4 limity the, degree of displace ment of thev tilting cage when itv is desired-l to` discharge a.v block of ice. in a horizontal position..

Itis` evident. from the foregoing thaty each ot;

the internal and external gear segments of the power transmitting drum must be of predetermined length to bring about operation in sequence of the elevator i3, the conveyor 25 and tilting cage -35and to predetermine the duration of operation of these elements. The saw shafts I8 and 2i continue to operate throughout the operating cycle of the machine which is, as previously stated, determined by the arm 4l engaging with the motor circuit switch S3, although it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specic location and mode of operating the switch.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modication and such modication as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ice scoring machine having ice elevating, scoring and conveying means and tilting cage, a common operating means therefor comprising a drum mounted on the frame of said machine and adapted for rotation on a vertical axis, an annular gear ring embracing said drum, a motor circuit, a motor in said circuit, means engaging said annular gear ring and operated by said motor for rotating said drum, a plurality of annularly discontinuous gear segments interiorly of and rotatable with said drum, a pinion held against other than rotation and periodically driven by said gear segments, means actuated by said pinion for operating said elevator, a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous gear segments exteriorly of said drum, a pinion driven periodically by said exterior gear segments, rotatable means operated by said latter pinion for actuating said conveyor and tilting cage in sequence and switch means in the path of said rotatable means effective to open and close said motor circuit for predetermining the operating cycle of said drum.

2. In an ice scoring machine, a power transmission for operating in sequence an elevator, scoring means, conveyor and tilting cage of said machine, said power transmission comprising gear driven by said latter means for actuating said drum, a plurality of annularly discontinuous gear segments interiorly of said drum, a pinion driven by said gear segments for actuating said elevator to move ice 'thereon in relation to said scoring saws, a plurality of circumierentially disa drum rotatably mounted on the top of the frame of said machine, a motor circuit, a motor in said circuit for driving said drum, annularly spaced gear segments interiorly of said drum for actuating said elevator to move anice block thereon into the path of the scoring means, circumferentially discontinuous gear segments on the exterior surface ci said drum, a pinion driven thereby for actuating said conveyor to advance the scored block into said tilting cage, separate gear segments on the exterior surface of said drum, crank means and a connecting rod operated by said separate gear segments for actuating said tilting cage, means connecting said motor and drum for driving said drum and switch means periodically engageable by said crank means to open and close said motor circuit for predetermining the operating cycle of said machine.

3. In an ice scoring machine, a power transmission ior operating in sequence an ice elevator, scoring saws, conveyor and tilting cage of said machine, said transmission comprising a horizontal operating drum rotatably mounted on the top of the frame of said machine, a motor circuit, a motor in said circuit for driving said drum, an annular gear embracing the exterior surface of said drum, a plurality of scoring Saw shafts carrying saws, means for driving said saw shafts, -a

`continuous gear segments exteriorly of said drum, rotatable means in engagement with and driven by said exterior gear segments for actuating said -conveyor and tilting cage in sequence and switch means in said motor circuit and disposed in the path of the rotatable means actuating said tilting cage for stopping said machine after each scoring cycle by opening said motor circuit.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3, further defined in that the operating drum has inner and outer concentric flanges adapted to support, in confronting relationship, the internal gear segments to impart to the elevator actuating pinion alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation.

5. The structure of claim 4, further defined in that a cable drum is driven by the elevator actuating pinion, on which is wound cables supporting the elevator, the latter being controlled in its movements by alternate engagement of the internal gear segments with the elevator actuating pinion during rotation of the operating drum.

6. In an ice scoring machine, a power transmission for operating an elevator, ice scoring saws, conveyor and tilting cage of said machine, said transmission comprising an operating drum rotatably mounted on the frame of said machine having a ring gear embracing the same, a plurality of internal and external circumferentially discontinuous gear segments carried by said drum, means driven by the internal gear segments of said drum for actuating said elevator, means driven by external gear segments of said operating drum for actuating said conveyor, a pinion periodically engaged by circumferentially discontinuous external gear segment of said operating drum, a shaft rotated by said pinion, a crank on said shaft, a second crank carried by said tilting cage, a connecting rod for imparting rotation to said second crank from said rst crank to raise and lower said tilting cage, a motor, means operated by said motor for actuating said scoring saws, means engaging the ring gear of said drum and operated by said latter means for rotating said drum and switch means periodically engageable by said first crank for de-energizing said motor after each scoring cycle of said machine.

7. The structure of claim 6, in which the paths of the internal gear segments of the operating drum are concentric to dispose the gear segments in confronting relationship, and a pinion mounted between the paths of the gear segments to be engaged thereby during rotation of the drum to eiect clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said pinion.

8. The structure of claim 6, further defined in that the throw of the connecting rod is adjustable in relation to the rst crank to increase and decrease the degree of tilt of the tilting cage.

9. An ice scoring machine as set forth in claim 6, further defined in that the external circumferentially discontinuous gear segments are correlated on the operating drum to effect operation of the conveyor and tilting cage in sequence.

WILLIAM W. BATEMAN.

No references cited. 

